more-in Thoothukudi Hundreds of fishing boats laid siege to an upcoming coal jetty at Kallamozhi, which is part of the Udangudi Supercritical Thermal Power Project. Most country boats across the district did not venture into sea opposing the coal jetty, which, they said, would restrict access to fishing in the area. Meanwhile, around 300 women formed a human chain along the Alanthalai coast. The Udangudi thermal power project is coming up at a cost of ? 11,000 crore with 2x660MW capacity. The jetty is being constructed at Kallamozhi to aid the coal supply at the plant. As talks with officials did not yield any result, the fishermen staged the protest as earlier announced. About 350 boats from fishing villages, including Manappad, Veerapandiyanpattinam, Punnakayal, Kallamozhi and Alanthalai, participated in the protest. President of Country Boat Owners Association S.J. Gayes said that the coal jetty affected the fishermen’s livelihoods. “Fishermen would have to circumvent the jetty area for several kilometres,” he said. “As ships would be coming frequently, fishermen would not be allowed in the area.” Further, he said that a project report had not been given to the fishermen. Collector Sandeep Nanduri said that talks would be held with representatives of fishermen again to discuss the issue.

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